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Roundup: Leaders of Cyprus, Egypt discuss energy cooperation after Zohr gas discovery

Xinhua, September 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

The leaders of Cyprus and Egypt discussed energy cooperation following the discovery of a mammoth natural gas field by Egypt, an official statement issued in Nicosia said on Thursday.

It said Cyprus's President Nicos Anastasiades congratulated Egypt's Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Egypt's discovery and pointed to importance of this development on the energy significance of the eastern Mediterranean.

Cyprus and Egypt are closely cooperating on the development of natural gas fields in the region. The two countries have initiated discussions for the sale of natural gas from Cyprus's Aphrodite gas field, containing an estimated 5 trillion cubic feet of gas.

But this has been overshadowed by the discovery of the Zohr mega gas field in which Italian ENI company tapped an estimated 30 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Egypt has said that the discovery will not affect ongoing negotiations between private companies for the transfer of natural gas from Cyprus's and Israel's gas fields to Egyptian liquefaction terminals at Idku and Damietta.

Egypt's al-Sisi was quoted by the official Cypriot statement as telling President Anastasiades of the need to strengthen the energy security of the eastern Mediterranean for the benefit of the countries and peoples of the region through cooperation between Cyprus and Egypt.

Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis said that a delegation of the British BG Group arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday for consultations with the consortium developing Aphrodite gas field and Cyprus's state Hydrocarbons Company for the transfer of natural gas to the Idku liquefaction terminal.

Lakkotrypis said negotiations for the sale of the gas are continuing despite the discovery of the Zohr field.

He also said that the Ministry of Energy on Friday will make its comments on the plans of Noble Energy, the main partner in the Aphrodite consortium, for the development of the gas field.

Plans being discussed include the building of a pipe system from the Aphrodite field and Israel's adjoining gas fields to existing Egyptian pipe infrastructure.

Lakkotrypis said French energy company Total is expected to submit in October revised geologic reports concerning Cypriot block 11, which is only six km from the Zohr field.

Total had obtained a license for drilling in block 11 which was extended by Cypriot authorities for another year for the preparation of a revised exploration plans. Endit